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Nissan Pathfinder vs Toyota Highlander: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 228 complaints per model year about the Nissan Pathfinder and 219 about the Toyota Highlander.

Side by side

Nissan PathfinderToyota Highlander
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints4,5654,608
Complaints per model year228219
Recalls3545
Years to avoid2006200720082013201420192021
Best years201620182019200720092016
Most common problemTransmissionTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy21-23 mpg combined (2026)24-35 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Nissan Pathfinder: 8372006 Toyota Highlander: 27920062007 Nissan Pathfinder: 5612007 Toyota Highlander: 1242008 Nissan Pathfinder: 3282008 Toyota Highlander: 40620082009 Nissan Pathfinder: 372009 Toyota Highlander: 1342010 Nissan Pathfinder: 402010 Toyota Highlander: 21620102011 Nissan Pathfinder: 452011 Toyota Highlander: 1822012 Nissan Pathfinder: 232012 Toyota Highlander: 18220122013 Nissan Pathfinder: 8912013 Toyota Highlander: 2072014 Nissan Pathfinder: 5772014 Toyota Highlander: 13620142015 Nissan Pathfinder: 3212015 Toyota Highlander: 1932016 Nissan Pathfinder: 1052016 Toyota Highlander: 11120162017 Nissan Pathfinder: 1882017 Toyota Highlander: 2722018 Nissan Pathfinder: 782018 Toyota Highlander: 27620182019 Nissan Pathfinder: 762019 Toyota Highlander: 5112020 Nissan Pathfinder: 482020 Toyota Highlander: 32320202021 Toyota Highlander: 5392022 Nissan Pathfinder: 1372022 Toyota Highlander: 26720222023 Nissan Pathfinder: 1072023 Toyota Highlander: 1922024 Nissan Pathfinder: 872024 Toyota Highlander: 4320242025 Nissan Pathfinder: 642025 Toyota Highlander: 112026 Nissan Pathfinder: 152026 Toyota Highlander: 42026
Nissan PathfinderToyota Highlander

Problems compared

PathfinderHighlander
Transmission1,754921
Engine1,165539
Fuel system545336
Airbags487309
Electrical346560
Brakes336649
Body195375

Questions about the Nissan Pathfinder vs Toyota Highlander

Which is more reliable, the Nissan Pathfinder or the Toyota Highlander?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Nissan Pathfinder has 5 years to avoid and the Toyota Highlander 2. The Toyota Highlander has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Toyota Highlander drew fewer complaints per model year (219 vs 228), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Nissan Pathfinder or the Toyota Highlander?

From 2006 to 2026, the Nissan Pathfinder was covered by 35 recalls and the Toyota Highlander by 45.

What years of the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Highlander should you avoid?

Nissan Pathfinder: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2014. Toyota Highlander: 2019 and 2021.

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